1941
Winfred
2021
Winfred Lee “Smitty” Smith Jr.
December 1, 1941 — April 7, 2021
Winfred Lee “Smitty” Smith Jr., 79, departed this life peacefully on April 7, 2021 in Charlotte, NC after a brief illness.
Winfred was born on December 1, 1941, in Lynchburg, Virginia to the late Winfred Sr. and Georgia Smith.
He graduated from Dunbar High School in Lynchburg, before going on to work for Duti-Duds, Inc. After a long stint with Duti-Duds, he worked for Lynchburg College and then Liberty University. He moved to North Carolina to live with his daughter, Sharon, where he lived in Fayetteville and Charlotte for the past ten years. The past decade was especially memorable for him as he thoroughly enjoyed living in North Carolina. Sharon did a wonderful job taking care of him.
Growing up in Lynchburg, “Smitty” loved sports and he was a star athlete. He played basketball and he excelled in Track & Field, where he was a star sprinter, having participated in the nationally recognized Penn Relays in Philadelphia, PA. He was also a pretty good bowler, having won many trophies in bowling leagues. As an avid sports fan, “Smitty” could always be found at home in front of the TV with a beer in his hand, cheering for his favorite NFL team, the Washington Redskins. And during high school football season, he could be found on Friday nights with his buddies, cheering on his favorite football team, the E.C. Glass Hilltoppers. In the stands, he could always be heard yelling, “Big Blue!!”
Although “Smitty” was a small man in stature, he had one of the biggest hearts that anyone could possess. And one thing is for sure. If he labeled you as his “Heart”, you were truly special to him. He was very popular in Lynchburg with many friends, who absolutely loved him. And he could always be seen walking somewhere in Lynchburg, with his arms swinging, reminiscent of “George Jefferson”. He would always put a smile on your face with his quirky catch-phrases like, “Fat Mamma-Jamma” or before departing, he would sometimes say, “I’m going across the pond.” His charming personality and infectious laugh will surely be missed.
He married Ruby Harvey in 1967, and from that marriage they had 3 children, twins Sherman L. Smith (Nichelle), of Chester, VA & Sharon L. Smith-Malloy (Charles), of Charlotte, NC and Kenita S. Johnson (Otis), of Lynchburg. Although his marriage to Ruby lasted only a few years, they remained life-long friends.
“Smitty” was preceded in death by his parents.
Along with his children, he is also survived by his brothers, Marvin A. Smith, of Lynchburg & Wayne B. Smith Sr. (Andrea), of Kenbridge, VA, and his sister, Peggy Austin, of Lynchburg.
He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A celebration of life will be held at 2 pm Friday, April 16, 2021 at the Tharp Funeral Home Chapel Lynchburg. Interment will follow the service in Forest Hill Cemetery.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg is assisting the family.
Click here to view Winfred Smith’s tribute video
Winfred was born on December 1, 1941, in Lynchburg, Virginia to the late Winfred Sr. and Georgia Smith.
He graduated from Dunbar High School in Lynchburg, before going on to work for Duti-Duds, Inc. After a long stint with Duti-Duds, he worked for Lynchburg College and then Liberty University. He moved to North Carolina to live with his daughter, Sharon, where he lived in Fayetteville and Charlotte for the past ten years. The past decade was especially memorable for him as he thoroughly enjoyed living in North Carolina. Sharon did a wonderful job taking care of him.
Growing up in Lynchburg, “Smitty” loved sports and he was a star athlete. He played basketball and he excelled in Track & Field, where he was a star sprinter, having participated in the nationally recognized Penn Relays in Philadelphia, PA. He was also a pretty good bowler, having won many trophies in bowling leagues. As an avid sports fan, “Smitty” could always be found at home in front of the TV with a beer in his hand, cheering for his favorite NFL team, the Washington Redskins. And during high school football season, he could be found on Friday nights with his buddies, cheering on his favorite football team, the E.C. Glass Hilltoppers. In the stands, he could always be heard yelling, “Big Blue!!”
Although “Smitty” was a small man in stature, he had one of the biggest hearts that anyone could possess. And one thing is for sure. If he labeled you as his “Heart”, you were truly special to him. He was very popular in Lynchburg with many friends, who absolutely loved him. And he could always be seen walking somewhere in Lynchburg, with his arms swinging, reminiscent of “George Jefferson”. He would always put a smile on your face with his quirky catch-phrases like, “Fat Mamma-Jamma” or before departing, he would sometimes say, “I’m going across the pond.” His charming personality and infectious laugh will surely be missed.
He married Ruby Harvey in 1967, and from that marriage they had 3 children, twins Sherman L. Smith (Nichelle), of Chester, VA & Sharon L. Smith-Malloy (Charles), of Charlotte, NC and Kenita S. Johnson (Otis), of Lynchburg. Although his marriage to Ruby lasted only a few years, they remained life-long friends.
“Smitty” was preceded in death by his parents.
Along with his children, he is also survived by his brothers, Marvin A. Smith, of Lynchburg & Wayne B. Smith Sr. (Andrea), of Kenbridge, VA, and his sister, Peggy Austin, of Lynchburg.
He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A celebration of life will be held at 2 pm Friday, April 16, 2021 at the Tharp Funeral Home Chapel Lynchburg. Interment will follow the service in Forest Hill Cemetery.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg is assisting the family.
Click here to view Winfred Smith’s tribute video
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Winfred Lee “Smitty” Smith Jr., please visit our flower store.
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